Chapter 20: Baring the Soul

All four girls gathered in the club room with Michael who at long last returned to them. All four of them are glad that he finally showed up. However, the fun had to be cut short as Michael stands in front of them ready to finally reveal his true self. Monika asked him to open up, but can she handle what he's going to say? Can the others accept it as well?

Sayori: "What do you mean MC?"

Michael: "Monika, you asked me to tell you why I'm like this. Why I hide my face from everyone. Why I'm so distant. It's time I tell you why."

Monika: "No Michael you don't have to. Just seeing you is good enough for us."

Michael: "No it isn't enough. We've made it this far. There's no going back. No more excuses, no more lies, no more secrets. I'm ready to bare my soul. Even if it's painful for me to talk about. About my past."

Natsuki: "What's going on here? What are you talking about?"

Yuri: "Yes, what's going on here? You left without saying a word and now you're here to talk about something painful?"

Michael: "I am. After I tell you, my story. There's no room for me to be here anymore."

Sayori: "What?"

Yuri: "You won't be here anymore? What are you saying?"

Michael: "Let me tell you the full story. About me and my family. A story about why people hate me so much for the sins of my dad."

Monika: (Michael, I asked you to open up, but have I made the right choice in asking you?) She braces herself for the worse.

Michael takes a deep breath before speaking. Images of his past flashed before his eyes. The painful memories that plagued him his whole life. The girls notice that he's nervous. Just standing in front of them made his scars reopen. He didn't want to open up, but here he is ready to share his scars and to walk down memory lane. He clenched his hands and told his story. A story about his cursed blood.

[Broken Home by Papa Roach]

Michael: "A long time ago during the time me and Sayori were hanging out together. My family started off like any other. We were a happy family. Until my father changed.

My parents were happy together. Thinking back at it. I had so much fun playing with Sayori. It was the happiest time in life during what will become my most painful time. My dad seemed like a good man, but in reality, he was a horrible man. I don't know what changed him, nor do I know what caused him to be this way, but he would lash out on us. He would take his frustrations out on us. He would blame me for everything, even telling me that I ruined my mom's body. When he would beat me, my mother would come in to take the punishment for me. I would hear her scream in pain when he hits her, even forcing her to sleep with him when she didn't want to.

I would beg for why he would do this to us. Why did he have to hurt me? Why would he want to hurt mom? Not only did he take his frustrations out on us. He would take it out on others. He would cheat on my mom with other men's wives. It's because of him that most kids' parents are divorced. He would come home drunk with bruises after fighting with other guys.

In my darkest hour my mom was the only one to care for me. I always ask why she stays strong. She would always tell me that mothers are always strong and just listening to her say those words made me angry and jealous of her strengths. I wanted to say something, but instead. Like a coward I ran. My dad gives no fucks about us. In the end he finally got arrested. I don't know who called the cops, but I am grateful that they did. However, because of him everyone looks down on me.

They all look at me as him. They stare at me as being just like my dad. I got so angry because of him. I wanted to lash out at the world. The same world he lashed out on. I hate, hate, Hate, HATE him! I hate him for the scars he inflicted upon me that I took a bat and destroyed everything that represented him. Why? Why do you do this I wonder? Why dad? Why does my father hate us this much!" He shouts as the girls see tears running down his eyes.

"Why do you hate our family! Why do you all look down on me!" He drops to his knees crying about the past. The scars reopened as the girls look down on him crying. They didn't say anything. Only allowing him to speak. "Why did you have punish us with your sins! Why do all of you hate me when I'm just a victim as well! Even after everything I did to make up for it! You all look down on me! You all see me as that bastard!" With him down on his knees. The girls didn't say anything, but just watch him at his most vulnerable.

[Song Ends]

After letting it all out he picked himself back up and wiping away his tears as he looks back at the girls. "You probably hate me now? You see that now, don't you? Even after everything I've done to improve myself. I could never escape my fate. In the end … I'm just like him. I'll be just like my dad someday. Perhaps everyone is right about me? I'm weak, I'm worthless, I'm just a threat to everyone. Maybe I just enjoy the abuse? Which is why I never said anything." He looks down on the floor. "I'll be alone. Only to be remembered for my dad's crimes. The son of a bastard."

He looks back up with a fake smile with his hair moving to the side. Allowing the girls to see his dead eyes. "I understand if you want to kick me out. Everyone else did. You girls can keep my name, so you girls can keep the Literature Club. I'll see myself out. I hope you all can enjoy the rest of your high school life." Just as he turns his back, he felt a warm touch on his back.

Monika: "I now understand why you're so distant. Thank you for sharing." She hugs him tightly with tears running down her face.

Sayori: "I never knew you were hurting all this time. Why didn't you say anything sooner." She walks up to him hugging him from the front.

Natsuki walks up to him trying to hide her tears as she holds onto his hand.

Natsuki: "You got guts telling us all this. I respect that, but please don't say that you'll be alone." She says holding back her tears as Yuri takes his other hand.

Yuri: "Don't ever compare yourself with your dad. You're a good person with a heart. We could never turn you away. So please don't leave."

Michael: "All of you? Do I deserve this?"

Monika: "Do you need to ask? You're our club member and our friend. Even when everyone turns you away. We'll always be there."

Michael: "Thank you, but my scars will never fade away?"

Monika: "That's fine, because we'll be here to help."

While they all share a group hug, Todd can be seen out in the hallways listening in on their conversation. He had a look of guilt on his face as he turns away from the Literature Club. After all that was settled. Monika decided to end today's club meeting and to allow Michael to have alone time for himself. Everyone gathered their stuff and left for home while Michael leaves on his own as request. After sharing his backstory, Sayori is seen writing in her diary about what she learned about her old friend.

Sayori: (I'm a bad friend. Why didn't he tell me he was suffering. If I only knew then I would have helped him, but he didn't. Perhaps it's because it's too painful for him to admit it. Here I am letting these rainclouds ruin my sunshine when my closet friend is suffering more than me. I really am trash.) She gets off her seat and grabs her phone, dialing someone's number. "Hope her number didn't change." She waited patiently for a response from someone she's trying to call. After a few rings someone finally picked up.

Mom: "Hello?"

Sayori: "Hi Mrs. Conner, it's Sayori."

Mom: "Oh hello Sayori how have you been? It's been so long since we spoke ever since you and Michael stopped seeing each other."

Sayori: "Yes it has been a long time. Am I interrupting you with work?"

Mom: "Oh no. I'm on my lunch break so I can talk."

Sayori: "That's cool. Listen can I ask you about MC?"

Mom: "Sure ask away." Sayori takes a deep breath.

Sayori: "Can you tell me about what happened between you and Mr. Conner?"

Mom: "Huh?"

Sayori: "Oh I'm sorry. That must be a very touchy question to ask? You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I can understand."

Mom: "Oh no, don't worry about it." (So, he told them?) She smiles to herself. "Listen I don't want to talk about it here when I'm at work. Maybe when I'm off I could tell you?"

Sayori: "Really? Of course then. That would be really awesome."

Mom: " Alright let me just tell you when I'm off and we could meet up."

Sayori: "Sure thing."

While those two are making plans Monika is laying on her bed thinking about what Michael told her and the others.

Monika: (I now understand why he acts this way and why he felt so touchy when I brought up his dad that one time, I visited him. The reason he covers his eyes are to hide away his shame. He could've done something to stop his dad but couldn't and ever since then felt the guilt of not saying anything until now. Not only that, but I now know why there aren't any photos of his dad. He destroyed them all to take out all his frustrations.

I asked him to open up, but … it must've been difficult for him to talk about it. However, he stood in front of us and told what he's been feeling deep down. He has a lot of guts to bare his soul to us despite the trauma. No matter what, I have to help him forget about his scars and help him find happiness. It's the least I could do for him.) *Sigh* (He's a good person, but the way he talks about himself so negatively. It really hurts me to see him like this.)

While she thinks about what she heard from him. the pain he went through his whole life. Yuri is at home feeling depressed about his story. She could almost feel the pain in her heart at the sight of seeing Michael breakdown in front of her and the others. While she thinks about it a knock can be heard from her door.

Yuri: "Oh! P-please come in." Her mother enters her room.

Yuri's Mother: "Are you feeling alright sweetie?"

Yuri: "Yes mother, I just …"

Yuri's Mother: "Something you want to talk about?"

Yuri: "N-no it's just …"

Yuri's Mother: "You can always talk to me. What's got you down?" She sits next to her daughter.

Yuri: "… It's just … Today a friend of mine confessed to us that he's a victim of child abuse."

Yuri's Mother: "That's awful."

Yuri: "That's what I thought. I'm just wondering to myself if I'm a terrible person?"

Yuri's Mother: "Why would you think that?"

Yuri: "Because here I am complaining about being shy and alone. Wishing I could be like the others, but after hearing Michael bare his heart and soul with tears running down his face. It hurts me to see the one I used to look up to fall down so hard."

Yuri's Mother: "Yuri sweetie." She pats her daughter's head. "You're not a bad person. Everyone has their own problems. It's what you decide to do with your life. Your friend told you, his secrets. Perhaps this is his way of moving forward. You can still look up to him. Let his confessing inspire you to improve yourself. I'm sure seeing you do better is what will help him forget his past."

Yuri: "Do you think so?"

Yuri's Mother: "We won't know until we try. You're not a bad person sweetie. You're a bad person if you turn your back on him."

Yuri: "Thank you mother."

Yuri's Mother: "Anytime sweetie. I'll leave you be. Goodnight."

Yuri: "Yes, goodnight mother." Her mother gets off her bed and leaves her room. (Michael, you deserve a happy ending. I'm just so shameful that I couldn't do anything to help. The only thing I could do for you is support you in your time of need. Will that be enough for you? I hope.)

Meanwhile at Natsuki's house.

Natsuki: (Damn, that took a lot of guts for him to tell us his past. Wish I had his strength, then maybe I could tell the others my personal problems. Me and him are the same. The only difference is that he confessed while I kept my mouth shut and pushed everyone away. I want to be strong like him. Not with pure strength, but emotionally. Maybe then I could apologize to Yuri a whole lot easier? Rather than giving her treats to make up for my lack of words.)

Natsuki's Dad: "Natsuki! I'm home! Eat up!"

Natsuki: *Sigh* (Another night with my dad. Maybe I could bare soul someday or maybe never.)

While everyone does their own thing. Michael is seen walking through the streets of night. The cool breeze of winter. The lights reflecting on the snow. He looks up to the dark sky as snowflakes fall from the heavens.

Michael: "Do you need something?" He says without looking back.

?: "Do I need a reason to see you?" Said a woman.

Michael: "I guess you don't." He looks to see a girl with blonde hair, brown eyes, covered in make-up. She dressed like a metalhead. Rough clothing, her pants had some tears, a silver neckless over her band t-shirt. "Aren't you cold in this winter?"

?: "Not as cold as you for ignoring my messages."

Michael: "Sorry, I needed time for myself."

?: "Whatever, come on. Let's head over to my place already." She offers him her hand and he takes it. "Good boy. For your obedience I'll give you something good, if you catch my drift?"

Michael: "Yes mam." (Where did I go wrong?) He uses his other hand to cover his ribs.

?: Come on, don't make that face. Look I'm sorry about that whole incident last week. Cheer up and let me make it up to you." She does a little jester with her hand to her mouth.

Michael: "Ok" He says shyly, but to anyone else hearing it. It had a hint of depression. (I guess I can't get away from it after all. In the end, no matter where I go. The pain follows.)

End of Chapter 20